TAJ MAHAL

TAJ MAHAL

India and its beauty

Taj Mahal is a monument in Agra, India. The building was built between 1630 and 1653.Once the capital of the Mogul Empire (c. 16-18), Agra is an hour and half away by express train from New Delhi. Tourists from around the world visit the area but not built the fortress ruins of empire but their eyes to see Taj Mahal. He is most famous monument of India, magnificent temple that reminds the world rich civilization of a country that was gradually swallowed up industrialization. Taj Mahal is truly the best preserved monument-tomb in the world. English poet Edwin Arnold describes him as „not an architectural monument but love a king engraved in stone”. It is located on the river Yamuna, which served as a defense of the Fortress of Agra, the center of the Mogul Empire to move the capital to Delhi in 1637.Taj Mahal was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in memory of the second wife Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. Empress died after the birth of the 14th century child, with her husband during the campaign to crush rebellions in Burhanpur. Her death affected him in the king so that he bleached hair in just a few months. Before last breath Mumtaz asked the king four things: to build a tomb, to remarry, to love their children and to visit the grave of the anniversary.Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1631 and lasted 22 years. It is said that 20,000 people were sent to work here. The materials were brought from all over India and other parts of Asia with a „fleet” that include 1,000 elephants. Designed by architect Ustad Isa of Iran, Taj Mahal has become the „symbol of eternal love”.Building „rises” in the red landscape, is situated on a terrace of white marble that highlights the huge dome and four minarets. Ensemble closes very beautiful interior garden with fountains and main alley, beginning at the imposing entrance is guarded by ornamental trees.Taj shines like a jewel in the moonlight, captured by countless gems inlaid in marble. At dawn the whole ensemble looks pink, yellow and white evening Iara.Changing colors is said to be the symbol of women’s mood. King planned to build the other side of the river a replica monument of black marble and a bridge.Unfortunately for him and for posterity, which would have the opportunity to see a unique monument, everything was limited to a grand plan. In the old days, there were silver doors and was placed inside a lattice of solid gold and pearl texture directly on the ledger. They were stolen.The building is located in a natural setting and communicate with the outside through a high gate and massive, which is clearly a symbol of entry into paradise.It was made of solid silver and silver riveted with nails, but because it was very heavy, it sank. It was replaced with a brass, much easier.King died without seeing their dream come true but managed to fulfill the first two wishes of his wife.According to legend, Shah Iehan intended to build for himself a similar monument, but it would be followed to be built of black marble on the other side of the river Jumma.Fate, however, was opposition to him: his son, Aurangzeb, was proclaimed king in 1658 and kept in captivity in the Agra fort for nine years, in the form of house arrest.Tragedy occurs here: inside the fort, former mogul emperor was in sight and away, totdata, view the Taj Mahal.Although strong love for guiding wife lives, did not cease even when dead husband loved, yet fate has something else more prepared two, Tay Mahal is changing because of pollution, it changes color, yellow, due to pollution and industrial activity despite restrictions and traffic. To conserve the monument, the Indian Supreme Court ordered the closure ten years ago or moving foundries, brick and glass near the Taj Mahal, Agra located in the north. Only electric vehicles are allowed near the tomb, and air quality is measured regularly.

over 200 kilometers from New Delhi is Agra (Uttar Pradesh State), the place that houses the symbol of India, older than four centuries, the Taj Mahal. If you want to visit, you must leave the capital early morning to avoid traffic jams as possible so common in Delhi. Even so, being lucky, you can not actually get to Agra than in four hours by bus. Have to stop for lunch frugally, which in India can be a real adventure. Sometimes you eat very spicy dishes, cheap true, using your hands (Indians use only one, but is somewhat more difficult for Europeans) and tolerating company flies attracted to mess around. Even more difficult, but a search turns toilet adventure. How men can satisfy physiological needs in the street, you may have to do the same. For women, it’s not so easy. Smokers, however, may be happy. Although India is banned smoking in public places and streets, you find a driver willing to let you smoke even on the bus. You can travel by train. Get faster, but trains in India are not always the most comfortable means of transport.Railways inherited from the British, not in the best condition. In addition, as in most vehicles, and there is congestion. If you want everything to go well, you should take along a trusted Indian friend. Once you get in Agra, you will be assaulted by pseudo-guides, always ready to tell you amazing stories about the Taj Mahal for a few rupees more. Postcards, souvenirs and beggars, an atmosphere, unusual for Europeans to India, is aggressive and intimidating at times. In the vicinity of the temple, find poverty and ignorance. One of my children beggars is addressed using a word which, translated from Hindi, would be equivalent to „brother”. Students explain me immediately: my beard made the poor Indian to believe that they are Muslim. As in many other places in the world, and here find the same stereotypes. Therefore, it is always better to go to Agra where you will be already familiar with India because otherwise the beauty of Taj Mahal will be seriously overshadowed by all these small businesses that offer their services at every step. Listening to inventing stories for travelers coming from who knows where, you can not help to wonder whether they themselves believe in stories that plasmuiesc. I am so convinced and transposed into the story world that no longer know what to believe. Taj Mahal is not a monument for them Architect, not the place impresses perfect geometry, it is, above all, the symbol of eternal love.Security measures are severe, as everywhere else in India. If you want to visit the Agra Fort, you can not take even a lighter inside. Although I was warned, I looked into his trouser pocket a matchbox. In search of the entry summary, auncată was discovered in a corner with some other objects at least as careless as me.Entrance to the Taj Mahal is as secure. Once you get used to people armed, in uniform, which mushroomed in Delhi, after you get used to being searched every time you enter the subway, and no longer seems nothing unnatural. But if you are not already familiar with all that, it is possible to live a slight sense of panic. In the air fear terrorist attacks. Last year’s attacks Mombay throughout the country have increased the alert level. One of the hotels concerned it was entitled „Taj Mahal”.Maybe it’s not always easy to understand why Indians speak with a respect almost religious about the Taj Mahal. For them, the intensity is measured in something behind the story. Impressionable, always ready to react to everything related to the spectrum of human emotions, most Indians are fascinated by the history of Emperor Shah Jahan who built the temple in Agra in honor of his wife (Mumtaz Mahal) who had just died. The construction lasted over 20 years, over 20,000 people worked to raise the house, with white marble imported from Iran and Afghanistan present. The story itself can be heard in countless ways.Night, engraved stones in the temple shine, so you must be a fascinating show.Inner and outer walls are covered with quotes from the Koran. Once you get past the security forces, cross the driveway at the end of which is the temple. Then, you have to leave shoes and socks in the care of an Indian and store them for a small amount and continue your journey barefoot. In November the temperature is pleasant, so that marble is warm. Inside the temple does not allow photos, but after all we are in India and if not here then where else can you break the rules with serenity tourist who knows that at times is an advantage that is not local?Once you visit Taj Mahal you can simply place the marble in the temple, resting and admiring him again at the same time.Follow the road back to Delhi … a hell for that with nightfall traffic agglomerate increasingly louder. Only a few hours after, you start figuring, impressions are somewhat clear, once you look over the photos in May, see pictures of Indians met around you (they already know that you were impressed and like nothing more!) and start to rewind the film … You saw the Taj Mahal …